Ariana Grande brought festive chaos and sharp humor to Saturday Night Live on December 20, 2025, hosting the show’s annual Christmas episode and the final broadcast of Season 51. Joined by Cher as the night’s musical guest, Grande marked her third time as host with a monologue that instantly became viral.
Rather than opening with a traditional stand-up routine, Grande leaned into her musical instincts. She delivered a full parody of Mariah Carey’s holiday staple “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” transforming it into a comedic anthem titled “What Do I Get for Christmas for This Dude?” The song hilariously captured a familiar seasonal dilemma: buying a gift for someone you barely know, in this case her cousin’s boyfriend, Steve, whom she only sees once a year.
With pitch-perfect vocals and Broadway-level timing, Grande sang lines like “I don’t know what to get for Christmas for my cousin’s boyfriend Steve” and “Is a gift card rude?” before landing the punchline, “I panicked and ordered a Yeti mug, the Christmas equivalent of a shrug.”
The performance expanded as cast members appeared in oversized Christmas sweaters, rapidly suggesting increasingly absurd gift ideas. Raw oysters, shampoo, a massage coupon, and even a Cameo from Matthew Morrison were all floated and immediately dismissed as deeply uncomfortable.
Bowen Yang made an early appearance in the number. The episode marked his final show as a full-time cast member, and Grande, his Wicked: For Good co-star, acknowledged the moment with warmth and gentle teasing.
The parody concluded with a cheerful twist when Marcello Hernández announced that the cousin had broken up with Steve, instantly resolving the crisis. No gift required.
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